Recoverable guide means base



May 23, 1967 w. w. WORD. JR

RECOVERABLE GUIDE MEANS BASE Filed July 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ii William W.Word,Jr.

FIG .2.

ATTORNEYS May 23, 1967 w. w. WORD, JR

RECOVERABLE GUIDE MEANS BASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2. 1964 INVENTOR William W. Word,Jr.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ohio Filed July 2, 1964, Ser. No. 379,783 16 Claims. (Cl. 166-.5)

This invention relates to equipment for use in drilling and completing wells under water and, more particularly, to a recoverable base for the guide means employed to guide equipment to an underwater well.

In an increasing number of cases, underwater wells are drilled and completed by operations carried out from a floating vessel. Since the location of the vessel can be only approximately controlled with reference to the location of the borehole, and since it is necessary to lower various types of equipment to the borehole in such manner that the device or piece of equipment is precisely centered relative to the borehole when it arrives at the floor of the sea or other body of water beneath which the Well is to be established, it is a usual practice to employ a guide system including guide elements which extend from the vessel to the location of the borehole. Typically, the guide elements may be cables, as described in United States Patent No. 2,808,229, issued Oct. 1, 1957, to R. P. Bauer et al., though strings of pipe or tubing can be employed in place of the cables. In all events, such systems usually employ a base which is installed at the floor of the body of water and to which the lower ends of the guide elements are attached.

Heretofore, a guide means base has been made for each well drilled,.the base being left in place permanently, even though it is not necessarily useful after completion of the well. Since such bases are quite costly, involving an expenditure on the order of $10,000 each, abandonment of the base represents a considerable financial loss.

A general object of this invention is to devise a practical guide means base which can be recovered from its point of underwater installation once it has satisfied its purpose.

Another object is to provide a recoverable guide means base which can be operated remotely, as from a floating vessel, to accomplish release of the base when recovery is desired.

A further object is to provide a base structure for guide systems of the type described which can be rigidly attached to a tubular Well element, such as a length of conductor casing, by manual operations carried out on the drilling vessel, the combination of the conductor casing and the base structure then being installed at the floor of the body of water beneath which the Well is drilled, the base structure being so constructed that it can subsequently be released by remote control for recovery.

Yet another object is to provide a remotely operable latch device capable, for example, of securely holding a guide means base in place on a tubular well element.

In order that the manner in which these and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention can be understood in detail, a particularly advantageous em- 3,321,3l5 Patented May 23, 1967 bodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a guide means base constructed in accordance with the invention and installed on a piece of casing;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the guide means base of FIG. 1, portions thereof being broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 33, FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 44, FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5, FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a latch device employed in the guide means base of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 77, FIG. 6.

Considered broadly, the invention provides at least two base structures capable of being fitted around a conductor casing or the like, a clamp member being rigidly carried by each of the two base structures in such fashion that, when the two base structures are fitted together to form a base assembly, and are latched to secure that assembly, the clamp members are forced into engagement with the conductor casing in such fashion as to secure the base assembly rigidly to the casing. The base structures are held together in the assembly by a latch device so constructed as to be releasable by remote control, so that the two base structures and their clamp members can be freed from the casing for recovery. Typically, two base structures may be employed, each constituting one-half of the base assembly, and each of the clamp members may be semicylindrical. In such an embodiment, the two base structures may be hinged together at one side of the assembly and the remotely releasable latch device can be connected to both of the base structures, at the other side of the assembly, so as to be capable of latching the hinged base structures rigidly together.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the embodiment of the invention here illustrated employs two complementary base structures 1 and 2 of rectangular form, the two structures being hinged together at 3, and a remotelyreleasable latch device 4 being connected to the two structures opposite the hinge.

Each of the structures 1 and 2 has a long side defined by an H-beam 5, two short sides 6 and 7 of the same H-beam configuration as side 5, the remaining side of the structure being constituted by two members 8 and 9, of U-shaped cross section, and an arcuate clamp member 10. As seen in FIG. 4, portions 8 and 9 are arranged in such fashion that the channels thereof open toward side 5. As will be clear from FIG. 3, the base webs of members 8 and 9 project into the channels afforded by members 6 and 7. All of members 5-10 are secured rigidly together, as by welding. A tubular cross-brace 11 is connected between clamp member 14) and the junction between members 5 and 6. Similarly, a tubular crossbrace 12 is connected between clamp member 10 and the junction between members 5 and 7.

In each structure 1 and 2, the clamp member 10 is semicylindrical and so positioned that its axis extends at right angles to the plane in which members 59 are disposed. Clamp members open away from the corresponding members 5 and are so positioned that, when the structures 1 and 2 are placed together with the base webs of members 8 and 9 of the two structures in respective engagement, the straight edges of the two clamp members 10 are in respective alignment, the two clamp members then substantially defining a cylinder and being disposed to embrace the conductor casing, for example.

Adjacent the corners defined by members 6 and 8, the two base structures 1 and 2 are pivotally interconnected by the hinge 3, the hinge being so disposed that the axis of pivotal movement lies in the plane of engagement between the two base structures 1 and 2 and is, therefore, parallel with the central axis of the cylinder defined by clamp members 10 when the two base structures are in assembled relation, as seen in FIG. 1. Hinge 3 comprises a bifurcated portion 13, rigidly attached to side 6 of base structure 1, a single tongue 14 rigidly attached to side 6 of base structure 2, and a pivot pin 15 extending through aligned openings in elements 13 and 14.

Base structure 1 is provided with two tubular guide columns 16 and 17, column 16 being welded to the corner defined by members 5 and 6, while column 17 is welded to the corner defined by members 5 and 7. Base structure 2 is similarly provided with two guide columns 18 and 19, column 18 being Welded to the corner defined by elements 5 and 6 of that base structure, while column 19 is welded to the corner of that structure defined by elements 5 and 7. The guide columns project in parallel fashion, at right angles to the common plane occupied by base structures 1 and 2, the arrangement being such that the guide columns will extend vertically upwardly when the guide base assembly is installed on the conductor casing at the well. Guide columns 16-19 can be constructed as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,050,139, issued Aug. 2 1, 196 2, to W. J. Hayes. Thus, as seen in FIG. 2, each column comprises a vertical slot 20 which will accept one of the usual lateral guide arms used to connect the device to be guided to the guide cables or the like. Slots 20 open upwardly, considering the assembly in its installed position, and terminate adjacent hold-down shoe 21 fixed rigidly within the guide column and constructed to retain the lower ends of the guide cables or the like.

For each of base structures 1 and 2, a second clamp member 22, having the same configuration as clamp member 10, is employed. Each clamp member 22 is fixed in place by tubular cross-braces 23 and 24 which lie below braces 11 and 12, respectively, and are welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the junctures between members 5 and 6, on the one hand, and 5 and 7, on the other. The assembly is completed by vertical struts 25 having their ends welded respectively to the outer surfaces of the clamp members 10* and 22.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, it will be seen that the releasable latch or connector device 4 includes a hydraulic cylinder body 30, the ends of which are closed respectively by threaded caps 31 and 32. The end of cap 32 is provided with a cylindrical bore 33 through which a piston rod 34 slidably extends, a suitable seal 35 being provided to seal between the end cap and the piston rod. The outer end portion of piston rod 34 is bifurcated, including parallel spaced cars 36. The fiat end 37 of a threaded length 38 extends between ears 36, portions 36 and 37 being pivotally interconnected by a pin 39 extending through suitable aligned openings in these portions. The hydraulic cylinder portion of the device is mounted on suitable brackets 40, FIGS. 2 and 5, welded to side 7 of base structure 1. The threaded portion of link 38 extends freely through an opening in a bracket 41 rigidly afiixed to side 7 of base structure 2. Link 38 is fixed relative to bracket 41 by nuts 42. It will thus be seen that,

if the piston rod 34 is locked in a predetermined position within cylinder 30, base structures 1 and 2 will be locked together, with portions 8, 8 and 9, 9 in face-to-face engagement, as seen in FIG. 1. If, on the other hand, the piston rod 34 be moved outwardly relative to the cylinder, base structures 1 and 2 will pivot about the axis afforded by pin 15 of hinge 3, this pivotal action of the two base structures being accepted by the latch 5 because the axis of pin 39, FIG. 6, is parallel to the axis of pin 15.

The inner end of rod 34 is enlarged to form a piston structure indicated at 43. The piston structure is provided with an outwardly opening transverse annular groove 44 which slidably accommodates a plurality of latch segments 45 each urged outwardly by a compression spring 46. Cylinder body 30 is provided with an inwardly opening transverse annular groove 47 into which the latch segments 45 are projected by springs 46. The side wall 48 of groove 47 nearer end cap 32 extends at right angles to the longitudinal central axis of cylinder body 30. The corresponding side faces 49 of segments 45 are flat and lie in a common plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the piston rod. Accordingly, when piston structure 43 is properly positioned within the cylinder body, so that segments 45 project into groove 47, faces 49 of the segments are in latching engagement with side wall 48 of groove 47. Considering the position of the hydraulic cylinder on base structure 1 to be predetermined, as'is the position of bracket 41 on base structure 2, it will be understood that groove 47 is so located that, when segments 45 are in latched engagement in the groove, base structures 1 and 2 are held rigidly together in the assembled position seen in FIG. 1.

Segments 45 have cam faces 50 which slant inwardly toward the end wall of cap 31, faces 50 coacting with an unlatching piston indicated generally at 51 and located beyond the free end of piston structure 43. Unlatching piston 51 has a main body which is slidable on the shank of a stud 52, the tip of the stud being threaded into an interiorly threaded recess in the free end of piston structure 43. Unlatching piston 51 is urged into normal engagement with head 53 of stud 52, as by a biasing spring 54. With the parts so arranged, the annular skirt 55 of piston 51 is disposed in engagement with all of the cam faces 50 of segments 45. Free space exists between the end face of unlatching piston 51 and the end wall of cap 31, and hydraulic pressure fluid can be supplied to this space via suitable porting and the conduit 56. Transverse annular seals 57 are carried on the outer cylindrical surface of the main body of piston 51, so as to seal between this piston and the inner wall of cylinder body 30. A suitable seal 58 is provided between the shank of stud 52 and the axial bore in piston 51 which accepts the shank. Accordingly, introduction of fluid under pressure via conduit 56 serves to force the unlatching piston 51 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 6, against the biasing action of spring 54. Such movement causes the tip of skirt 55 of the unlatching piston to force segments 45 inwardly, against the action of springs 46, until the latching segments 45 are fully withdrawn from groove 47, freeing the main piston structure 43 for'movement within the cylinder body. Further introduction of pressure fluid drives pistons 51 and 43 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 6, forcing base structures 1 and 2 to pivot away from each other about the axis afforded by hinge pin 15.

Though conduit 56 may extend to any suitable source of fluid pressure located remote with respect to the guide means base, it is preferred to employ a stab-in fitting 60 mounted, for example, on cross-beam 12 of base structure 1, the internal cavity of this fitting being connected to conduit 56. Of conventional construction, fitting 60 accepts a stab-in male connector lowered at the end of a string of pipe and guided into proper alignment with fitting 60, as by the guide cable or the like associated with column 17.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the conductor casing or like tubular well element 61, to which the guide means base is to be attached, is provided with spaced transverse collars 62, 63 and 64. Collars 62 and 63 are spaced apart, axially of the casing, by a distance such as to snugly accommodate the clamp members it). Collars 63 and 64 similarly are spaced apart by a distance such as to snugly accommodate the clamp members 22. The dimensions of the cylinder body and piston rod assembly of latch 4 are such that, with the pistons 43, 51 moved to the righthand end of the cylinder, as the cylinder is viewed in FIG. 6, members 8, 8 and 9, 9 of the two base structures are spaced apart adequately to allow clamp members ltl and 22 to pass over the collars 62 and 63. Accordingly, with the parts so related, the base structures can be positioned with clamp members 10 in alignment with the space between collars 62 and 63, while clamp members 22 are aligned with the space between collars 63 and 64. Base structures 1 and 2 can then be pivoted together manually, causing piston structure 43 to move to the left, as viewed in FIG. 6, until, as the two base structures come into full mutual engagement, and clamp members 10 and 22 are accordingly clamped against the casing 61, latch segments 45, FIG. 6, move into alignment with groove 48 and are forced outwardly into latching engagement with this groove, by the biasing action of springs 46. Such latching engagement of segments 45 with the cylinder body fixes piston rod 34 against movement outwardly relative to the cylinder body, and so rigidly secures the two base structures 1 and 2 in their assembled relation, the base assembly thus being rigidly secured to casing 61.

Though one particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention has been chosen for illustration, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an underwater well installation including an upwardly extending fixed well member, the combination of flange means carried by the upwardly extending well member,

said flange means presenting opposed outwardly projecting shoulders spaced apart axially relative to the upwardly extending well member; at least two clamp structures each dimensioned for engagement between said shoulders; at least two rigid base structures each provided with at least one device for attachment to an elongated guide element,

each of said clamp structures being mounted on a different one of said base structures; releasable connector means operatively arranged on said base structures for connecting said base structures rigidly together to form a base assembly,

said clamp structures being forced into locking engagement with the upwardly extending well member between said shoulders by the action of said connector means, said shoulders preventing movement of said base assembly axially relative to the upwardly extending well member, said base assembly extending at least generally at right angles to the axis of the upwardly extending well member; and

remotely operable means for releasing said connector means and moving said base structures relative to each other to withdraw said clamp structures from the upwardly extending well member and thereby free said base structures for recovery.

2. A well installation in accordance with claim 1 and wherein said releasable connector means comprises a power device including 6 first and second elements movable relative to each other between a first position, in which said base structures are disposed with said clamp structures engaging the upwardly extending well 5 member, and a second position, in which said base structures are spaced apart adequately to free said clamp structures from said flange means; and means for releasably latching said first and second elements in said first position. 3. A well installation in accordance with claim 1 and wherein said base structures are pivotally interconnected, and said connector means includes a power device operatively arranged to force said base structures pivotally toward each other to bring said clamp structures into engagement with the upwardly extending well memher. 4. A well installation in accordance with claim 3 and wherein said power device comprises a cylinder secured to one of said base structures, a piston element secured to another of said base structures, and latch means releasably holding said piston and cylinder elements in relative positions such that said clamp structures are maintained in engagement with the upwardly extending well member. 5. In an underwater well installation, the combination of an upwardly projecting fixed well member;

upper flange means on said well member presenting at least a downwardly facing outwardly projecting shoulder;

lower flange means on said well member presenting at least an upwardly facing outwardly projecting shoulder;

at least two rigid base structures;

a plurality of clamp structures each rigidly mounted on a diflFerent one of said base structures and each adapted to engage said well member in two spaced areas, one of said areas being immediately below the downwardly facing shoulder of said upper flange means, the other of said areas being immediately above the upwardly facing shoulder of said lower flange means;

means interconnecting said base structures for movement toward and away from said well member in a plane generally transverse to said well member;

releasable latch means operative to latch said bast structures in positions such that said clamp structures engage said well member to secure said base structures thereto;

power means carried by said base structures and opera tive, when actuated, to move said base structures apart to free said clamp structures from said shoulders for recovery of said base structures; and

remotely operated means for releasing said latch means and actuating said power means.

6. In an underwater well installaiton, the combination so of i an upwardly extending fixed casing member;

flange means on said casing member presenting two outwardly projecting opposed shoulders;

two rigid base structures having side portions capable of being brought into mutual engagement,

said side portions being interrupted by a space through which said casing member extends; two clamp structures each rigidly mounted on a different one of said base structures and disposed at said spaces,

said clamp structures each being engaged with said casing member between said shoulders; releasable latch means interconnecting said base structures and restraining the same against relative movement in directions which would disengage said clamp structures from said casing member;

remotely operated power means for releasing said latch means and moving said base structures away from each other to free said clamp structures from said casing member preparatory to recovery of said base structures; and

means carried by said base structures for connection to elongated guiding elements.

7. An underwater well installation in accordance with claim 6 and wherein said side portions are straight,

said base structures being pivotally interconnected at adjacent ends of side portions for pivotal movement in a plane transverse to said casing member, and said latch means and said power means are disposed on the side of said casing member opposite the pivotal connection between said base structures.

8. A recoverable guide means base for use in carrying out operations such as drilling and working in a borehole in a formation underlying a body of water, the combination of at least two hinged, rigid structures each provided with a clamp element adapted to be brought into clamping engagement with a casing member; and

a remotely controllable combined latch and power device normally retaining said structures in positions such as to hold said clamp elements in engagement with the casing member,

said combined latch and power device being operative,

when actuated, to drive said structures apart to free said clamp elements from the casing member preparatory to recover of the base.

9. In a device for securing two elements in fixed relation at an underwater wellhead and releasing the elements at will for recovery from the wellhead, the combination of a cylinder adapted to be mounted on one of the elements to be secured; piston means disposed for der;

means for connecting said piston means to the other of the elements to be secured;

releasable latch means operative to fix said piston means against movement in one direction relative to said cylinder when said piston means occupies a predetermined position in said cylinder;

means for admitting pressure fluid to said cylinder to drive said piston in said one direction; and

means responsive to such admission of pressure fluid for releasing said latch means.

10. A device in accordance with claim 9 and wherein said latch means comprises a transverse shoulder on one of said cylinder and said piston means;

at least one latch element carried by the other of said cylinder and said piston means and movable between a retracted position and a projected position, said latch element having a cam face; and

said means responsive to admission of pressure fluid comprises a piston element having a cam portion disposed to engage said cam surface to cam said latch element into its retracted position.

11. A device in accordance with claim 10 and wherein said latch means comprises a plurality of latch elements disposed in an annular series extending transversely of said cylinder; and

said piston element includes an annular skirt adapted to engage the cam surfaces of all of said latch elements.

12. In a device for securing two elements in fixed relation at an underwater wellhead and releasing the elements at will for recovery from the wellhead, the combination of a cylinder adapted for mounting on one of the elements to be secured;

a piston disposed for reciprocation in said cylinder;

a piston rod connected to said piston and projecting reciprocation in said cylinfrom one end of said cylinder for connection to the other of the elements to be secured;

releasable latch means operative to latch said piston at a predetermined point in said cylinder against movement toward said one end of said cylinder;

means for admitting pressure fluid to said cylinder adjacent the other end thereof; and

means responsive to such admission of pressure fluid for releasing said latch means to free said piston for movement toward said one end of said cylinder.

13. A device in accordance with claim 12 and wherein said latch means comprises a transverse shoulder on one of said cylinder and said piston, said shoulder facing said other end of said cylinder,

a plurality of latch elements carried by the other of said cylinder and said piston and arranged in an annular series extending transversely of said cylinder, each of said latch elements having a cam face directed generally toward said other end of said cylinder, and

means biasing said latch elements toward engagement with said shoulder; and

said means responsive to such admission of pressure fluid for releasing said latch means comprises a second piston disposed in said cylinder between said first-mentioned piston and said other end of said cylinder, and

means yieldably biasing said second piston toward said other end of said cylinder,

said second piston having an annular portion projecting toward said first-mentioned piston for engagement with the cam faces of said latch elements.

14. In an underwater well installation for use in carrying out from a floating station operations such as drilling and working in a borehole in a formation underlying a body of water, the combination of an upright fixed well member aligned with the borehole and located at a substantial distance below the surface of the body of water;

a plurality of base structure portions of such configuration as to be adapted to be assembled into a complete base structure having an opening through which said well member extends,

said base structure extending in a plane at least generally transverse to said well member, and

each of said base structure portions being equipped with at least one device for attachment to an elongated guide element extending from the floating station;

a plurality of clamp structures each secured to a diflercut one of said base structure portions at said opening and adapted to operatively engage said well member when said base structure portions are assembled with said well member extending through said opening; and

releasable connector means operatively connected to said base structure portions for locking the same toge-ther in their assembled positions with said clamp structures then all held in clamping engagement with said well member to secure said base structure to said well member.

15. An underwater well installation according to claim 14, wherein said releasable connector means includes elements operative to interconnect said base structure portions after said connector means has been released to free said clamp structures from said well member, whereby said base stnu-cture portions can all be recovered as an interconnected unit.

16. An underwater well installation according to claim 15, wherein only ctiwo of said base structure portions are employed,

said connector means comprises first means pivotally interconnecting said two base structure portions for movement about an axis which is parallel to said well member and spaced from said Opening; and

second means operative to rigidly secure said two base structures together at a point spaced from said opening and located at least generally across said opening from said first means, said second means being releasable to allow said base structure portions to pivot about said axis and move said clamp structures away from said well member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Johnson l75-7 Prick 175-7 Hayes 166-.6 X Lacy 166-.5 Shatto 166-.6 Jones 166-5 Van Winkle 166*.6

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner. R. E. FAVREAU, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN UNDERWATER WELL INSTALLATION INCLUDING AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING FIXED WELL MEMBER, THE COMBINATION OF FLANGE MEANS CARRIED BY THE UPWARDLY EXTENDING WELL MEMBER, SAID FLANGE MEANS PRESENTING OPPOSED OUTWARDLY PROJECTING SHOULDERS SPACED APART AXIALLY RELATIVE TO THE UPWARDLY EXTENDING WELL MEMBER; AT LEAST TWO CLAMP STRUCTURES EACH DIMENSIONED FOR ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID SHOULDERS; AT LEAST TWO RIGID BASE STRUCTURES EACH PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT TO AN ELONGATED GUIDE ELEMENT, EACH OF SAID CLAMP STRUCTURES BEING MOUNTED ON A DIFFERENT ONE OF SAID BASE STRUCTURES; RELEASABLE CONNECTOR MEANS OPERATIVELY ARRANGED ON SAID BASE STRUCTURES FOR CONNECTING SAID BASE STRUCTURES RIGIDLY TOGETHER TO FORM A BASE ASSEMBLY, SAID CLAMP STRUCTURES BEING FORCED INTO LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE UPWARDLY EXTENDING WELL MEMBER BETWEEN SAID SHOULDERS BY THE ACTION OF SAID CONNECTOR MEANS, SAID SHOULDERS PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF SAID BASE ASSEMBLY AXIALLY RELATIVE TO THE UPWARDLY EXTENDING WELL MEMBER, 